minor crimes for which the penalty is usually less than one year in jail or a fine.

general part of criminal law
-consists of principles that apply to more thatn one crime

principals that apply to all crimes

special part of criminal law
-arranges groups based on subject matter

defines the elements of specific crimes

common law crimes

crimes originating in the English common law

codified (criminal law)

written definitions of crimes and punishments enacted by legislature and punishable.

Model Penal Code (MPC)

the code developed by the American Law Institute to guide reform in criminal law.

analysis of criminal liability

-conduct the unjustifiably and inexcusabl inflicts or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests.

administrative crimes

violations of federal and state agency rules.

federal system

structure of the U.S. gobernment divided into federal and state governments.

rates of imprisonment

number of prisoners per 100,000 people in the population

punishment

intentional infliction of pain on a person convicted of a crime.

criminal punishment
-penalties have to meet criteria-inflict pain or other unpleasant consequences, prescribe a punishment in the same law that defines the crime, administered intentionally, and state has to administer thempurpose-retribution, prevention

punishments prescribed by legislatures.

retribution
-only right if offenders choose in committing crimes or not
-culpability and justice